Optimizing Charge Switching in Membrane Lytic Peptides for Endosomal Release of Biomacromolecules

Endocytic pathways are practical routes for the intracellular delivery of biomacromolecules. Along with this, effective strategies for endosomal cargo release into the cytosol are desired to achieve successful delivery. Focusing on compositional differences between the cell and endosomal membranes and the pH decrease within endosomes, we designed the lipid-sensitive and pH-responsive endosome-lytic peptide HAad. This peptide contains aminoadipic acid (Aad) residues, which serve as a safety catch for preferential permeabilization of endosomal membranes over cell membranes, and His-to-Ala substitutions enhance the endosomolytic activity. The ability of HAad to destabilize endosomal membranes was supported by model studies using large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) and by increased intracellular delivery of biomacromolecules (including antibodies) into live cells. Cerebral ventricle injection of Cre recombinase with HAad led to Cre/loxP recombination in a mouse model, thus demonstrating potential applicability of HAad in vivo.     

Rheology of poly(methyl methacrylate-<Emphasis Type="Italic">co</Emphasis>-styrene) particles suspended in water: effects of electrostatic surface layer

 Linear and nonlinear viscoelastic properties were examined for aqueous suspensions of monodisperse poly(methyl methacrylate-co-styrene) (MS) particles having the radius a ₀ =45 nm and the volume fractions φ=0.428−0.448. These particles had surface charges and the resulting electrostatic surface layer (electric double layer) had a thickness of t_s=5.7 nm. At low frequencies in the linear viscoelastic regime, the MS particles behaved approximately as the Brownian hard particles having an effective radius a _eff=a ₀ + t_s, and the dependence of their zero-shear viscosity η₀ on an effective volume fraction φ_eff (={a _eff/a ₀}³φ) agreed with the φ dependence of η₀ of ideal hard-core silica suspensions. In a range of φ_eff < 0.63, this φ_eff dependence was well described by the Brady theory. However, the φ_eff dependence of the high-frequency plateau modulus was weaker and the terminal relaxation mode distribution was narrower for the MS suspensions than for the hard-core suspensions. This result suggested that the electrostatic surface layer of the MS particles was soft and penetrable (at high frequencies). In fact, this “softness” was more clearly observed in the nonlinear regime: the nonlinear damping against step strain was weaker and the thinning under steady shear was less significant for the MS suspension than for the hard-core silica suspensions having the same φ_eff. These weaker nonlinearities of the concentrated MS particles with φ_eff∼ 0.63 (maximum volume fraction for random packing) suggested that the surface layers of those particles were mutually penetrating to provide the particles with a rather large mobility. Received: 10 July 2001 Accepted: 2 November 2001     

Synthesis of 3,4-disubstituted cinnolines by the Pd-catalyzed annulation of 2-iodophenyltriazenes with an internal alkyne

A simple and efficient synthesis of cinnolines was achieved by a palladium-catalyzed annulation methodology. 3,4-Disubstituted cinnolines are prepared via palladium-catalyzed annulation of 2-iodophenyltriazenes with an internal alkyne in moderate to good yields. Several internal alkynes are applicable to this reaction and it is compatible with a number of functional groups.     

A characteristic ribbon-like supramolecular structure and intermolecular D–A interactions in the crystals of triptycenequinones, triptycene-TCNQs and their clathrates as studied by X-ray investigations

A common ribbon-like structure was found in the crystals of triptycenequinones (TPQs), triptycene-TCNQs (TP-TCNQs) and their clathrates. The characteristic structure can be regarded as a supramolecular unit the formation of which is aided by weak intermolecular D–A interactions. This view is supported by the host–guest D–A interactions appeared in the crystals of the clathrates of 5,8-dimethyl-TPQ and 5,8-dimethoxy-TP-TCNQ. Intermolecular C–HO hydrogen bonds seem to be present in TPQ derivatives.     

Highly selective iodide-sensing silicone ladder polymer membranes containing a porphyrin and a quaternary ammonium salt.

It has been demonstrated that a glass-like silicone ladder-type polymer permits one to homogeneously incorporate high amounts of ionophores into the covalently-bonded double chain structure. Furthermore, by making use of this feature, we have successfully fabricated an iodide ion-sensitive field-effect transistor based on two kinds of ionophores and silicone ladder polymer matrix. As ionophores, 5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl-21H,23H-porphyrin and dimethyloctadecyl-3-trimethoxylsilylpropylammonium chloride were homogeneously incorporated into the matrix. The ion-sensitive field-effect transistor showed a linear potential response ranging in the I- concentration between 1.0 x 10(-5) and 1.0 x 10(-1) M. The selectivity coefficients for I- towards interferences of ClO4- and NO3- were estimated to be Kpot(I-,ClO4-) approximately 6.2 x 10(-4) and Kpot(I-,No3-) approximately 4.9 x 10(-4). The matrix has proved to be so stable that the selectivity coefficients have not been altered over six months.